The United States has refused to rule out military action against Iraq as the UN Security Council voted unanimously to impose travel sanctions on senior Iraqi officials.
The resolution also threatens "further measures" if Iraq continues to interfere with UN inspections. But several countries made clear they oppose the use of force.
The vote was immediately condemned by the Iraqi deputy prime minister, Mr Tariq Aziz, who has been lobbying at the UN against the resolution.
The vote was a partial success for the US, which wanted the resolution to include the threat of "serious consequences" if Iraq expels the American members of the inspection team, UNSCOM.
Russia, China and France, which have a veto in the Security Council, refused the tougher wording. But the unanimous vote was a rebuff for Iraq.
In Baghdad the Foreign Minister, Mr Mohammed Said al-Sahhaf, said that the expulsion of the US members of UNSCOM would go ahead. That would probably mean the withdrawal of the whole team in solidarity.
Iraq has accused the US members of spying for the CIA and the Pentagon.
UNSCOM, drawn from 35 nationalities, is responsible for inspections to ensure that Iraq cannot manufacture weapons of mass destruction - nuclear, chemical or biological. It has been in place since the end of the Gulf War in 1991.
President Clinton called a meeting of his security advisers following the UN vote to consider possible reaction to an expulsion of the US members. Signs are increasing that the US believes military action will be required.
The US ambassador to the UN, Mr Bill Richardson, hailed the unanimous vote as a restoration of the "old coalition" which defeated Iraq in the Gulf War.